Tree Protection in Reading, PA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Reading or are thinking about moving there, tree protection are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Reading has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of tree protection, and some of them might surprise you.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Reading does not maintain a dedicated public heritage-tree registry in the City Code, but the Reading Shade Tree Commission (Bill No. 42, Sept. 12, 1973) protects all street trees in the public right-of-way under a uniformly strict standard. Specimen trees on private property may be designated for protection through conditions on approved land-development plans under the City's subdivision and land development ordinance. Reading is a recognized Tree City USA community. Mount Penn and the Mountain Top area host significant mature-tree resources.

Key details: Heritage Registry: No separate City registry. Default Protection: All street trees (Shade Tree Comm.). Designation Path: Land-development plan condition. Notable Resource: Mount Penn / Mountain Top. Recognition: Tree City USA community.

Removing or significantly damaging a designated specimen or 'tree to be saved' under an approved Reading land-development plan without amendment is a zoning/code violation prosecuted as a summary offense, with fines plus required replacement planting at an elevated ratio. Damaging a Reading street tree without Shade Tree Commission authorization triggers fines plus restitution for the tree's appraised value (ISA methodology). Damage to trees on PA DCNR State Forest land or in the Mount Penn Preserve is enforced separately by PA DCNR and the easement-holder.

Tree Removal Permits

Tree-removal permitting in Reading is administered by the Shade Tree Commission (Bill No. 42, Sept. 12, 1973) through the City Arborist (610-655-6035). A permit is required for removal of any street tree in the public right-of-way and for trees protected as a condition of an approved land-development plan. Routine removal of dead, diseased, or hazardous trees on private property is generally exempt from permitting. The Commission's authority derives from the Pennsylvania Third Class City framework for shade tree commissions.

Key details: Permitting Authority: Reading Shade Tree Commission. Apply Through: City Arborist 610-655-6035. Meeting Schedule: 2nd Monday, 4 p.m.. Private Residential: Generally no permit for hazard removal. Land Development: Tree-save plan amendment required.

Removing a Reading street tree without Shade Tree Commission authorization is a violation of the Reading City Code, prosecutable as a summary offense before a Magisterial District Judge with fines and required restitution for the appraised value of the tree using ISA tree-appraisal methodology. Removal of a 'tree to be saved' under an approved land-development plan without plan amendment triggers stop-work orders and required replacement planting at an elevated ratio. Repeat or large-scale unpermitted clearing can trigger PA DEP enforcement under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102.

Tree Replacement Requirements

Tree replacement in Reading is administered by the Shade Tree Commission for street-tree removals and by the City's land development ordinance for development sites. Replacement of approved street-tree removals typically requires 1:1 planting per Commission policy. On land-development sites, replacement ratios scale with the diameter of the removed tree, with replacement species drawn from an approved native or non-invasive list. The Commission may also require cash-in-lieu contributions to the City's tree fund where on-site planting is infeasible.

Key details: Street Tree Replacement: Typically 1:1 (Shade Tree Comm.). Development Sites: 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 by DBH typical. Replacement Caliper: ~2–2.5 inch minimum. Species List: Native / non-invasive only. Cash-in-Lieu: May be available via City tree fund.

Failure to install required replacement trees within the time specified by the Shade Tree Commission permit or the land-development plan approval is a Reading City Code violation prosecuted as a summary offense, with fines per tree and possible withholding of the Certificate of Occupancy on related construction. Survivability-bond forfeiture (typically required at the time of land-development plan approval) covers the cost of re-planting if replacement trees die within the warranty period. Persistent non-compliance can trigger revocation of related permits and referral to the City Solicitor for injunctive relief.

The Bottom Line

Reading's tree protection rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Reading is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Reading can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.